Law & Order actress Diane Neal reveals she was the victim of ‘unpleasant’ anti-Semitism in New York as she makes permanent move to Israel where she feels ‘safer’
- The 46-year-old TV star said she ‘experienced anti-Semitism in a really unpleasant way’ in New York over the past few years
- She said she feels ‘definitely safer’ in Israel after relocating in March
Law and Order star Diane Neal has said she feels ‘definitely safer’ in Israel than New York after experiencing ‘unpleasant’ anti-Semitism in the city, which has prompted legal action.
The 46-year-old actress said she has ‘experienced some anti-Semitism in a really unpleasant way’ within the last few years in the Big Apple – and she moved to the Middle East nation in March.
Neal described her solo move to Israel as a ‘dream come true’ in an Instagram post celebrating the milestone around 10 weeks ago.
More recently, the actress, who is best known for playing New York Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak in Law and Order, spoke with the Jerusalem Post about her decision to relocate.
The Law and Order star said she has ‘experienced some anti-Semitism in a really unpleasant way’ in recent years in New York – and she has legal action underway
Neal shared news of her relocation via Instagram, and she told the Jerusalem Post she feels ‘incredibly grateful’ to be living in Israel
‘Even in the last few years in New York, I have experienced some anti-Semitism in a really unpleasant way, which to me was shocking, absolutely shocking,’ she said.
‘For me, the better place to be is in Israel. I am feeling incredibly happy to be here, incredibly grateful to be here.
‘Believe it or not, I feel safe here and definitely safer. I cannot express the gratitude I have for all of my family members that came before me who suffered horrific things so that there would be a country to come to.’
Neal said she could not give further details about the anti-Semitic incidents in New York because legal action in underway, but she described the ordeals as ‘detrimental’ to her life.
The Virginia-born and Colorado-raised actress, who does not speak Hebrew, said some of her fans found her decision to support Israel distasteful amid heightening tensions with Palestine.
Neal, who unsuccessfully ran for the US House of Representatives as an independent in New York in 2018, added that she has ‘always loved being politically active’ but she does not ‘presume to know anything about a country I just landed in’.
The TV star said that ‘things are super crazy’ in Israel and she spent time at her cousin’s safe room in the north of the region ‘learning what the different sirens meant’ during rocket fire.
Neal made aliyah – the move by Jews to Israel – through the Nefesh B’Nefesh organization, the Aliyah and Integration Ministry and the Jewish Agency.
Neal is best known for playing New York Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak in Law and Order
Neal has described her solo move to Israel as a ‘dream come true’ despite a backlash from some fans who have condemned her support for the nation during ongoing tensions with Palestine
Neal described the political climate in Israel as ‘super crazy’ but she feels safer there than in New York, where she said she experienced anti-Semitism
Writing on Instagram shortly afterwards, Neal, who is also known for playing agent Abigail Borin on NCIS, thanked those who had facilitated her move for ‘making my dream come true’.
‘I know things are wild here right now, but that’s the best time to support Israel #soproud,’ she added.
Neal’s time in New York was also blighted by an acrimonious relationship with magician JB Benn, which she described in an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV as a ‘unilateral horror show’.
In 2019, Neal filed a lawsuit in New York against her ex, claiming he was a ‘manipulative and maniacal fraudster’ who swindled millions of her lifetime earnings, while physically and emotionally abusing her.
Writing a text to DailyMailTV in November of that year, she blasted Benn even further, claiming that after ‘years of extreme domestic violence… I fled leaving all I earned and my homes behind.. trying to get away from him.’
Benn hit back by filing a defamation complaint against Neal, claiming that she was the abuser, citing audio recordings where she threatened his life.
It is unclear how their legal feud was resolved.
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